The Resilience of SMEs at the Autumn Fair 2025: Promoting Green Consumption and Digital Transformation

VTV.vn - The 2025 Autumn Fair is considered a golden opportunity for SMEs, with more than 80% of booths being small and medium enterprises, helping them catch the wave of green markets and technology.

The power of direct trade and supply chain connectivity

According to the announcement, the Autumn Fair 2025 will take place from October 25 to November 4, 2025 at the Vietnam Exhibition Center (VEC), recording an outstanding presence of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), accounting for more than 80% of the total of more than 3,000 booths. This demonstrates the central role of SMEs in the economic structure and their urgent need to find effective direct trade promotion channels.

According to Mr. Nguyen Ba Phu, Deputy Director of the Trade Promotion Agency ( Ministry of Industry and Trade ), participating in the Fair helps SMEs solve three core problems in difficult times, which are quick liquidity, market expansion, and building brand trust. Meeting directly with distributors, supermarket chains and consumers at the event creates immediate cash flow, while providing a golden opportunity to establish long-term contracts.

"The fair creates a favorable environment for businesses, especially SMEs, to strengthen supply chains, seek new sources of raw materials and optimize production costs, thereby enhancing competitiveness in an increasingly harsh market context," Mr. Phu emphasized.

From the perspective of a business participating in the fair, talking to reporters, Mr. Dang Trung Doan - Owner of Dang Gia Agarwood brand (Tu Bong - Khanh Hoa ) shared: "The large-scale domestic Autumn Fair is a great opportunity for us to display and sell products directly, overcoming barriers of cost and time to approach large distributors. We have prepared carefully so that in the first days, we can sign large contracts, which will create the necessary financial stability for the company in the fourth quarter and early next year. In particular, we also expect to have the opportunity to trade with international partners so that our products can reach the export level."

Spreading the image and brand of OCOP

With more than 60 provinces and cities participating, the 2025 Autumn Fair is the largest stage for OCOP (One Commune One Product) products. These products, often the strengths of cooperatives and small-scale production facilities, have taken advantage of the event to increase brand awareness.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan affirmed: "Organizing large-scale fairs is an effective way to spread the image and value of OCOP products to each citizen and international partners. We not only sell products but also sell stories, culture and Vietnamese quality. This is especially important to enhance the brand value of local products and promote on-site exports."

New consumer standards: Green, technology and smart

Information from the Fair Organizing Committee clearly shows the shift in consumer behavior: consumers increasingly prioritize products with "green" and "sustainable" elements. The Fair will focus on displaying organic food products, plastic-free products (zero waste), and clean energy solutions, reflecting new consumer standards.

Products such as bamboo straws, non-woven bags, and biodegradable packaging have received great attention. Priority is given to agricultural products with certifications such as VietGAP, GlobalGAP, and deeply processed products that can be traced by QR code. Consumers are willing to pay more for this safety and transparency, encouraging SMEs to change their production methods.

SMEs dominate the playing field: Exploiting the power of the domestic market

Economist and market expert Tran Manh Hung assessed that this shift is not a temporary fad, but a sustainable trend driven by people's awareness. The fair will become a platform for businesses to take the lead and reorient production towards green standards, which is very important for deeper integration into the global supply chain and enhancing the long-term competitiveness of SMEs.

Technology application: Promoting digital transformation

The Autumn Fair 2025 is not only a traditional trade event but also a technology laboratory for the retail industry. This is in line with the orientation of promoting digital transformation for businesses, especially SMEs.

Most transactions at more than 3,000 stores are expected to be made via cashless payment methods, which will enable fast, secure payments and reduce cash risks. SMEs are encouraged to use on-site sales management applications to collect customer data, helping them analyze which products are selling best, who is buying, and peak shopping times.

Mr. Le Dinh Dung, Director of Viet Dung Company Limited, commented that for SMEs, the application of technology at the Fair is a big step forward in the omnichannel retail model. This helps them not only sell directly but also expand the market to online channels, thereby increasing competitiveness and attracting investment capital in the future. Technology has helped small businesses keep up with the pace of market development.

The Autumn Fair 2025 will be an important stepping stone, helping SMEs overcome difficulties, while shaping a new consumption standard: smart consumption must go hand in hand with social and environmental responsibility./.

Source: https://vtv.vn/suc-bat-cua-smes-tai-hoi-cho-mua-thu-2025-thuc-day-tieu-dung-xanh-va-chuyen-doi-so-100251014232539974.htm